Ship&#39;s billard-table.



1. BOOTH SHIPS BILLIARD TABLE. APPLICATIDN FILED APR. 4,1917- PatentefiDem. 19W

y Wm JOHN FRANCIS BOOTH, 0F ItAE'IIHI, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND.

snirs Bitmap-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4L, WW.

Application filed Ap i 4, 1917. serial No. 159,660.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN FRANCIS Boo'rrr,

subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Raetihi, Wellington,in the Dominion of New Zealand, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Ships Billiard-Tables; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention has been devised in order to provide improved means forsupporting a billiard table to adapt it for use on a ship and whichmeans are designed to support the table in such a manner that it will bemaintained level and steady when the ship pitches and rolls. The meansemployed also provide for the table being supported in such a manner asto withstand the ordinary weight placed on its edge by a person playing.

In carrying out the invention the table is supported at its exact centerupon asingle pillar on top of which the table rests on a ball and socketjoint so that the table may be able to swing up and down relatively tothe pillar. I

Beneath each corner of the table is arranged a vertical cylinder ofapproved diameter and these four cylinders are arranged in communicationwith each other through conduits of a cross sectional area equal to thatof each cylinder. Water is placed in the four cylinders and theircommunicating conduits so that the level of the top surface in the fourcylinders will auto matically remain constant with regard to the 7normal stationary level, no matter how the ships deck on which. thecylinders rest alters its level with the movements of the ship.Extending downward from the table at each corner is a vertical bar tothe bottom end of which a float is attached and which floatapproximately fits the corresponding water cylinder beneath. 'Ihebuoyancy of these floats in the water is adjusted to support the tableat its four corners with a sufficient upward resistance to prevent itsdisplacement downward when ordinary playing weight is imposed on anyparticular part of the tables edge. The floats also in their support ofthe table serve to keep it normally level, the floats responding withthe variations in the relative level of the water in the cylinderscaused by the movements of the ship. I

In. order to restrain the table from any side swing, while permitting ofthe relative movement of the table supports, a rod or pair of rods is orare fixed to depend from each end thereof and to pass through an eye, Oreyes upon a bracket or standard fastened to the deck beneath. 'Ihesepermit of the deck swaying, the eyes running freely over the rods andleaving the table stationary.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of a table and its support, portion of thewater cylinders being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the table supports, the table being indicated indotted lines.

A is the table top which is made in any of the usual ways but for thepurposes of this invention will preferably be stiffened by suitablemetal braces extending in approved manner, diagonally for instanceacross its underside. B is the central supporting pillar that is firmlyfixedto the deck C and is provided with an approximately semisphericaltop end D of metal or other wear resisting material. E is the socketpiece fastened to the underside of the table and positioned at the exactcenter thereof and which socket piece is adapted to fit on to the top I)of the pillar so as to form a pivotal support upon which the table mayrock in any direction.

F are the four vertical water cylinders arranged beneath the respectivefour corners of the table. These have their bottom ends all connectedtogether by cross cylinders or conduits G, of equal cross sectional areato the vertical cylinders, in order to provide for an instantaneous andequal displacement of the water in the vertical cylinders, with thevariations in the relative levels thereof caused by the movements of thedeck to which the cylinders are fixed. The vertical cylinders arearranged to project upward to any convenient height such as not tointerfere with the free rocking of the table A, on its central support,within reasonable limits. They are arranged to extend down through thedeck, while the horizontal cylilgders are arranged along below such decII are the floats, one of which is placed within each vertical cylinderF, and is attached to a rod J extending downward from the bottom of thecorresponding table cornert The attachment of these rods to the therein;

I "Copiejs'of this patentinay be obtained for'five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of tenants.

support.

table are preferably of a nature such as to allow of the relative angleof the rods to justed to providetor the submerging of thefloats to theextent'necessary to provide the buoyancy requisite to sustain the weightof the table, and also the weightplaced on any 'particular part of thetable by an individualleaning thereon to play. The floats also are madeof such an .area and the cylinders of SllOll a diameter as to'provldefor such buoyancy being obtained.

K, K, are thebrackets fixed'to the deck beneath each end ofthe tableandhaving horizontal members at a suitable height above such deck formedwith the eyes 70 M are'rods fixed to the table and depending verticallytherefrom and passing loosely through the respective eyes is. These rodsby their engagement .in. the eyes restrain any side swinging of thetable while permitting its rocking on 1. In ships, billiard tables, afixed pillar upon which thecenter of thejtable i pivthe central pivotal.

otally supported, in combination with vertical cylinders arranged onebeneath each corner of the table and having their lower 3 ends incommunication with one another, a float situated in each verticalcylinder and a rod extending from such float to the corresponding cornerof the table, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. A ships billiard table formed by a playing table top pivotallysupported at its center upon a fixed pillar and supported at each of itsfour corners upon floats contained within fixed cylinders or tanks ofWater, substantially as specified.

3. In ships billiard tables, a fixed pillar upon which the center of thetable top is pivotally supported, a vertical cylinder arranged beneatheach corner of the table top, a float fitted in each cylinder andattached to the corner of the table top above it, fixed bracketssituated beneath the table top and having eyes therein, and rods fixedto the table top and extending \"crtically and loosely through therespective eyes, substantially as and for the purposes Specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing Witnesses.

' JOHN FRANCIS BOOTH.

Witnesses:

W. ALEXANDER,

M. E. BROWN.

Washington, D. 0.

